THE HIGH SHERIFF OF SURREY AND THE UNSUCCESSFUL RECRUITS.
THE following letter has been sent to the Surrey news- papers by the High Sheriff :- DEAR SIR,—There is a very strong and very natural feeling that something ought to be done to mark the nation's gratitude to those men who have offered to serve their country, but whose offers have not been accepted, either owing to some medical reason, or because they were not able to satisfy the regulations, lately raised, as regards height and girth of chest. I desire, as High Sheriff of Surrey, to have the privilege of presenting to " the people who willingly offered themselves "—to use the noble word' of Scripture—a bronze badge to be worn in the coat as a proof of service proffered to the State. In the first place, the badge will be an acknowledgment made on behalf of the county of the would-be recruit's patriotism. Next, the names of those who receive it will be placed upon a register which I intend to keep so that, should there later be a renewed call to arms, their services may be the more easily utilized. Many of those whose only fault is want of chest measure- ment, or a slight failure to conform to the present height standard, will very likely reach the standard by a few months' gymnastic exercise night and morning. In any case, I should advise all rejected recruits who can possibly do so to join the nearest Rifle Club and make themselves as proficient as they can in marksmanship; and also, through the help of some old soldier, acquire an elementary knowledge of drill. By such means many of them may in another two or three months render themselves very acceptable recruits.
I ask, then, all Surrey recruits who have been rejected to write to me [Address The High Sheriff, Newland. Corner, Merrow, Guildford. Write the word " Badge" on the envelope], giving full name and address, and enclosing, if possible, the official paper given to them at the recruiting office when they were rejected. In cases where this paper has not been kept, the rejected recruit should state the grounds on which he was rejected, and get some responsible person, such as a minister of religion, a magistrate, any person in whose employ he has been, or any officer in H.M. Service, active or retired, to state that he knows the writer and will vouch for the good faith of his statement.—I am, yours faithfully, J ST. LOB STRACHEY, High Sheriff of Surrey.
Newland' Corner, Merrow, Guildford.
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